Fat. Fierce. Aquatic.

Tag Archives: professionals

I didn’t get to see much of the Olympic synchro this year, what with it being on in the middle of the night, and my not having pay TV. A few of the girls got together to watch, but I wasn’t able to make it, so I had to make do with finding as many YouTube videos as possible.

Olympic synchro is like another world. We watch their routines for inspiration, and we use some of the moves that they do, but the thought of actually undertaking one of these routines leaves me breathless. It’s certainly something to aim for.

This video gives you an idea of the routines of the top three at this year’s Olympics, as well as the way syncrho works in competition and the things judges look for.

My favourite routine was by Spain, who won the silver medal. In the above video, they’re the ones in the silver costumes – which I think are amazing. The clip they show of the routine in that video doesn’t include what I consider to be the best move, where they lift one girl out of the water in a crab pose (bent over backwards) and launch another girl over the top of her. It is actually incredible.

I’ve searched high and low for a really good quality video of the routine to no avail. This is the best one I could find, but it cuts off the good move a little.

I think the things that attract me to synchronised swimming are that it is beautiful and graceful, but also shows that women can be strong, fast and fierce. I think people are often surprised at how skilled syncrho actually is. After our performance last year we invited people into the pool to try some moves with us, and there was a lot of surprise when non-fat people were unable to do some of the things we do.

Also, it’s a team sport and requires women to bond together in order to create something. Speaking from my own experience, I can tell you that there’s a special bond that forms when you’re in skin to skin, vagina to skull contact with people on a weekly basis. Barriers break down, you laugh a lot. It’s hard to maintain decorum when you’re slipping and sliding all over the place. And it’s wonderful.